WATER QUALITY STUDIES IN THE WENATCHEE RIVER BASIN
Marine Biological Laboratory
HOLE, MftSS. WOODS \
SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT-FISHERIES Na 268
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE .
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The series embodies results of investigations, usually of restricted scope, intended to aid or direct management or utilization practices and as guides for administrative or legislative action . It is issued in limited quantities for official use of Federal, State or cooperating agencies and in processed form for economy and to avoid delay in publication United States Depairtment of the Interior, Fred A. Seaton, Secretary Fish and Wildlife Service, Arnie J. Suomela, Commissioner
WATER QUALITY STUDIES IN THE WENATCHEE RIVER BASIN
by
Robert Wendell Seabloom Department of Civil Engineering University of Washington
"This .work was financed by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries under Contract Nos. 14_19_008-2419 and 14-19-008-2506, with funds made available under the Act of July 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 376), commonly known as the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act."
Special Scientific Report —Fisheries No. 268
Washington, D. C. October 1958 ABSTRACT
A study of the physical and chemiccil characteristics of water was made in the Wenatchee River Basin during 1954,
1955 and 1956 to provide a basis for comparison to deter- mine the effect of impoundment on water quality in relation to the preservation of fish resources.
The waters were characterized by an extremely low con- tent of suspended £Uid dissolved matter, a very low hardness and alkalinity, a practically neutral pH, and a saturation with dissolved oxygen. Seaisoncil variations were noted in most constituents.
The Wenatchee River is capable of conserving and sup- plying waters of excellent physical and chemical quality. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 1
General discussion of factors affecting water quality .... 1
Topography 1
Stream flow characteristics 3
Geology 5
Soil mamtle 5
Climate 5
Land use and vegetjJL cover 6
Population 7
Industry 7
Ground water 8
Irrigation , 8
Sampling for determination of water qualities 8
Scunpling stations 8
Physical tests 8
Chemical tests 11
Sampling procedure 11 Frequency of sampling 11
Water quality in the Wenatchee River Basin 11
Nason Creek (Station 1) 11
Chiwawa River (Station 2) 14
Lake Wenatchee (Station 3) 17
Wenatchee River at Plain (Station 4) 20
Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon (Station 5) 23
Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow (Station 6) 26 Wenatchee River progressing downstream from Lake Wenatchee 26
Comparison of water queility, Wenatchee River and Columbia River 30 Page
The effect of impoundment on water quality 30 Effect on physical and chemical water quality 30 Effect on the biological water quality 32
Summary 32
Acknowledgment 34
Literature cited 34
LIST OF FIGURES
No. Page
1 Wenatchee River Basin (location map) 2
2 Vilenatchee River Basin (map) 3
3 Hydrograph, Wenatchee River at Peshastin, Washington. Average for period 1929-1953. Drainage area 1,000 sq. mi 3
4 Hydrograph, Chiwawa River near Plain, Washington. Average for period 1936-1950. Drainage area 170 sq. mi 3
5 Relation between stream flow, precipitation and air
temperature, Wenatchee River at Plain, Washington , 4
6 Wenatchee River Basin sampling stations (location map) . 9
7 Photographs of ssuapling stations 10
8 Physical and chemical characteristics, Nason Creek ... 12
9 Physical and chemical characteristics, Nason Creek, Station 1 13
10 Physical and chemical characteristics, Chiwawa River, Station 2 15
11 Characteristics, Chiwawa River, Station 2 16
12 Lake Wenatchee 18 No . Ptige
13 Comparison of physical and chemical characteristics, Lake Wenatchee, Station 3 19
14 Physical and chemical characteristics, Wenatchee River at Plain, Station 4 21
15 Physical and chemical characteristics, Wenatchee River at Plain, Station 4 22
16 Physical and chemicail characteristics, Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon, Station 5 24
17 Physical and chemicad characteristics, Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon, Station 5 25
18 Physical and chemical characteristics, Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow, Station 6 27
19 Physical and chemical characteristics, Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow, Station 6 28
20 Physical and chemical characteristics, Wenatchee River, progressing downstream from Lake Wenatchee .... 29
LIST OF TABLES
No . Page
1 Precipitation in the Wenatchee Valley 6
2 Population growth of the City of Wenatchee 7
3 Sewage discharge to Wenatchee River 7
4 Nason Creek—Water quality, physical characteristics, 1955-1956 11
5 Nason Creek—Water quality, water temperature, 1956 . . 11
6 Nason Creek—Water quality, chemical characteristics, 1955-1956 14
7 Nason Creek—Water quality, 1940 and 1955-1956 14 No . Page
8 Chiwawa River—Water quality, physical characteristics,
1955-1956 , . . 14
9 Chiwawa River—Water quality, water temperature, 1956 . 17
10 Chiwawa River—Water quality, chemical characteristics, 1955-1956 17
11 Lake Wenatchee—Water quality, physical charax:ter- istics, June-October 1955 18
12 Lake Wenatchee—Water quality, chemical character- istics, June-October 1955 18
13 Wenatchee River at Plain—Water quality, physical characteristics, 1955-1956 20
14 Wenatchee River at Plain—Water qucility, water temperature, 1956 20
15 Wenatchee River at Plain—Water quality, chemical characteristics, 1955-1956 20
16 Wenatchee River at Turawater Canyon—Water quality, physical characteristics, 1955-1956 23
17 Wenatchee River at Tumwat^r Canyon—Water quality, water temperature, 1956 23
18 Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon—Water quality, chemical characteristics, 1955-1956 23
19 Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow—Water quality, physical characteristics, 1954, 1955 and 1956 ... 26
20 Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow—Water quality, water temperature, 1956 26
21 Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow—Water quality, chemical characteristics, 1954, 1955 and 1956 ... 26
22 Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow and Columbia River at Rock Island—Water quality, 1954-1955-1956 ... 30 .
WATER QUALITY STUDIES IN THE WENATCHEE RIVER BASIN 1/
INTRODUCTICN 1. Suspended impurities: those present as individual insoljible particles, One purpose of this study was to deter- such as clay, sand, and bits of organic mine and evaluate the physical and chemical matter or living organisms. These particles quality of the waters in the Wenatchee River contribute turbidity to the water. Basin in relation to the environment. The. study was made prior to the proposed devel- 2. Dissolved impurities: those that opment of two major hydroelectric projects, intermingle with the water to form a solu- so as to provide a basis of comparison, to tion, such as mineral salts and organic determine the effect they may have on the substances. These constituents are evi- water quality. Another purpose was to make denced by the color, taste, odor, or chemi- predictions, if possible, as to the changes cal properties they impart to the water. that might take place in the water quality as a result of the impoundment due to these Carbon dioxide is soluble in water, hydroelectric projects. The final purpose forming carbonic acid. Since all natural was to provide water quality data for evsilu- waters usually contain some carbon dioxide, ation of the Wenatchee River Basin, in the resultant water is actually an acid relation to its value in the preservation solvent. This increased solvent power of of salmon resources of the Columbia River. the water does much to increase the content A biological study of these waters was made of dissolved minerals in surface and ground by Sylvester and Ruggles _' in conjunction waters and hence affects its quality. with this investigation. It is not a part of this report. The water quality of a region always reflects the conditions and uses of land from which it drains. In attempting to GENERAL DISCUSSION OF FACTORS establish and evaluate the water quality in AFFECTING WATER QUALITY the Wenatchee River Basin, a number of factors which may influence it were conf Water, as it occurs in nature, is never sidered. The factors and characteristics chemically pure; it Eilways has minute traces of the drainage basin are listed below and of iaqjurities. Even rainwater picks up are discussed im imore detail in subsequent small quantities of dissolved gsises and pages. solids, during its descent. The term water quality refers to the properties and charac- 1. Topography 6. Land use and teristics imparted by the impurities, sind vegetal cover to the type and quantity of mineral and 2. Flow characteris- organic constituents preseilt. The impuri- tics of rivers 7. Population ties found in water can be divided into two general classes: 3 Geology 8. Industry
4. Soil mantle 9. Ground water
^/ Condensed from a thesis submitted in 5. Climate 10. Irrigation partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering. Topography
2/ "A study of the Wenatchee and middle The Wenatchee River drainage basin is Columbia River prior to dam construction*' located in the southwestern extremity of by Robert 0. Sylvester and Charles P. Chelan County in the central portion of the Ruggles. University of Washington State of Washington (fig. 1). It is bor- (Seattle), Depeurtment of Civil Engineer- dered on the west by the Cascade mountains, ing and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. on the north and east by the Entiat moun- Not yet published. tains, and on the south by the Wenatchee C >A N A A
O RE G O N
Figure 1. —Wenatchee River Basin (Location map)
mountains. It contains approximately 1,310 The upper valley is characterized by a more square miles (Washington Department of Con- rugged, heavily forested topography, vrfiich servation Development, Division of Water is occasionally broken by smaller tributary Resources, 1955). Of the three mountain valleys. It is a mountainous area, with masses forming the boundary of the basin, lowlands found only along the many small the Cascade and Wenatchee mountains jire of strejuns which have eroded small valleys in extremely rugged topography with the moun- their course to the Wenatchee River. Lake tain ridges separated in places by deeply Wenatchee is an outstanding feature of the eroded valleys. The highest peak in the upper valley. The lower, broad smd open area is Mt. Stuart, 9,470 feet high, with valley extends from the town of Leavenworth the general elevation of the two ranges to the confluence of the Wenatchee and being around 6,000 feet. Columbia Rivers at Wenatchee, a distance of around 22 miles. The Entiat mountains, which form the boundary on the north and east, are of less The main tributaries to the Wenatchee rugged topography. They are characterized River progressing downstream are Little by narrow, flat-topped ridges or plateaus Wenatchee River, White River, Nason Creek, and flanked by precipitous slopes descending Chiwawa River, Chiwaukum Creek, Icicle to deep canyons. In elevation they range Creek, Chumstick Creek, Peshastin Creek, from 2,500 to 4,500 feet (fig. 2). and Mission Creek.
The basin ccin be divided into two Topogr^hy affects the runoff and smaller regions, the upper and lower valleyw water quality of a stream. A terrain consisting entirely of slopes with steep gradients has a rapid and high percentage of runoff with the re- sultant soil erosion. During this period, the solvent power of the water has little time to put into solution any of the soluble minerals, A flat terrain absorbs a large pro- portion of the rainfall, giving the water time to dissolve soluble mineral matter. The amount and rate of surface runoff is also lessened.
Stream Flow Characteristics
The Wenatchee River is an unre- gulated, rapid, snow-fed stream, with an average discharge of 2,900 cubic feet per second, having the maximum runoff usually during the
month of May or June , and the minimum during the month of September (fig, 3), The river has a fall of 1,230 feet from Lake Wenatchee to its con- fluence with the Columbia River.
The Chiwawa River is also a snow-fed stream, with the maximum 'and minimum flows occurring during the same months as the Wenatchee River, with an average discharge of 443 c.f.s. (fig. 4). — A major percentage of the J»igure 2. ^Wenatchee River Basin (nap) stream flow in the Wenatchee River
u:
- = : _i^ 1 1
I 1 o 5 «> Basin results from the melting of high is the most resistant to decomposition of altitude snow during the spring and early all rock-forming miner culs (Hinds, 1943). summer. The air temperature, therefore, is the controlling factor in establishing the flow in the streams of the Wenatchee River Soil Mantle Basin. This fact is shown graphically on figure 5 where it czin be seen that the run- Soil is formed in many ways and is an off was dependent upon the air temperature extremely complex mixture of mineral debris rather than precipitation. This has an from rock degradation and decomposition, important effect on the water quality, for organic matter, remnants of former plauit a stream fed mainly by freshly melting snow and EUiimal tissues, living organisms, soil is low in all types of impurities. water, gases, etc. The chief ingredients of most soils are the mineral particles originally derived from rock. Practically Geology all the common rock-forming minerals of a region are found in the soil of the area. The geology of the Wenatchee River The large variety of rocks in the Wenatchee Basin furnishes examples of metamorphic, draincige basin causes the valley soils to igneous, and sedimentary rocks (Russell, be formed of a great variety of mineral 1900). fragments. These soils derived mainly from granite schist and gneiss, though usually The northern portion of the Cascade poor in lime, are rich and fertile (Van mountains is composed of granites and grano- Winkle, 1914). diorites in large areas flanked by metamor- phic rocks such as schists, gneisses, and Soil of a drainage basin affects the serpentines (Van Winkle, 1914). On the runoff rate and water quality to a large north and east the Entiat mountains are degree. If a soil is porous, the amount largely schistose, with mica and hornblende and rate of surface runoff is lessened. If schists predominating (Russell, 1900). On the soil is compact, there is little absorp- the south in the Wenatchee mountains the tion, and runoff and soil erosion are rocks are granitic, with large amounts of greater. The solubility of the constituents serpentine representing peridotite (Van of the soil are also of importance from the Winkle, 1914). In the upper valley sand- standpoint of water quality. stone is abundant except for the portion of the valley cut through granite in Turawater Canyon. In the lower portion, the valley Climate of the Wenatchee is deeply gravel-filled and terraced. The State of Washington is divided by the Cascade mountains into two very differ- The geology of a drainage basin is ent climatic regions. On the west side the perhaps one of the most important factors prevailing westerly winds from the Pacific in the establishment of the water quality. Ocean are warm and humid, and supply suffi- Water, in contact with the rocks either at cient rainfall to support a dense growth of the surface or sub-surface, slowly dissolves natural vegetation. Precipitation increases some of the minerals and puts them in solu- as the westerly winds ascend the Cascade tion. This decomposition of the soluble mountains, with some stations averaging constituents of the rocks also loosens other over 100 inches of rainfall per year (D. S. particles and mjjtes them available for Weather Bureau, 1956). The amount of pre- transport by moving water. The greater part cipitation is abruptly reduced once the of the minerals in solution in a stream are divide is crossed. The climate east of the contributed by ground water since it is in Cascades is characterized by slight precipi- contact with the rocks for a much greater tation cuid much greater extremes in tempera- period of time. ture. The modifying effect of the Pacific Ocean is still effective in keeping the It is significant that the most common climate less severe than similar points rocks in the Wenatchee basin are granite. inland at compaxcible latitudes. Quartz is abund ant in granite and is the chief constituent of most sands and sand- The variation in precipitation, a stone. Chemically and physically, quartz winter mziximum and summer minimum, is about the same in the upper and lower valleys with the total for the former being much less. As shown in table 1, the amount of precipitation received is roughly propor- tional to the altitude.
Table 1. —Precipitation in the Wenatchee Valley. Population
The first permanent white settlement In the Wenatchee Valley was made in 1872, just north of the present City of Wenatchee. Early settlement was retarded by the Icick of transportation facilities. With the coming of the Great Northern Railroad in 1893, growth was very much stimulated. Cities and towns such as Leavenworth, Cash- mere, and Wenatchee have grown up where the plentiful water from snow- fed mountain streams is availabile for irrigation of the fertile lands in the sunny valley. The steady growth of the area is indicated in table 2 which shows the population growth for the City of Wenatchee.
At the present time the population is almost entirely confined to the irrigated lower valley. The estimated population in April 1955 for the entire Wenatchee River Basin was 30,000. It is evident that the population density of the watershed is very low. Excluding the population of the City
Table 2. -Population growth of the City of Wenatchee.
Date Wastes from industries can be an WATER important influence on the quality of the SAMPLING FOR DETERMINATION OF river water, along which the industries are QUALITIES located. Depending on the nature of the industrial waste, the character of the Sampling Stations receiving water can be altered quite exten- sively if the waste is present in siiffi- Sampling stations for collection of cient volume in relation to the quantity of water samples for chemical and physical water available for dilution. analyses were established at the following locations in the Wenatchee River Basin In the Wenatchee River Basin, major and industrial pollutants offer no serious (figs. 6 7). pollution problems. Station 1 - Nason Creek ; neax mouth at State Park bridge. Ground Water Station 2 - Chiwawa River ; near mouth at State Highway 15C The rocks cind soil that form the bridge. earth's crust are not solid throughout. They contain meiny voids which provide stor- Station 3 - Lake Wenatchee ; 3 miles age space for water. Rainwater and melted above mouth, 1/4 mile snow charged with carbon dioxide enter from south shore. these pores and voids and dissolve the soluble minerals present in rocks and soils. 4 - Wenatchee River at Plain : Generally, ground water has a much higher Station 2 miles south of Plain, content of dissolved minerjils, a lower west side of river. amount of suspended materials and less dis- solved oxygen than surface water. Station 5 - Wenatchee River at Turn-
water Canyon ; east side Ground water affects the quality of river at Drury Canyon. surface water if the two are allowed to of mix. By either percolating directly to the Station 6 - Wenatchee River at Sleepy stream or returning to the surface in the Hollow ; at bridge approx- form of a spring, ground water usueJ-ly imately 2 miles above mixes with and imparts some of its charac- Wenatchee. teristics to the river. These points were selected because accessibility and con- Irrigation of their present venience, and likelihood that they would remain so after construction of the pro- Irrigation has been essential in the hydroelectric projects. In addition, Wenatchee River Basin ever since the first posed were free from local influences and white settlers arrived. The area of land they to give a representative under irrigation increased rapidly until situated so as the streaun or lake. about 1915 and has remained fairly constant seimple of since then. Physical Tests According to Simons (1953), 25,470 acres were under irrigation in 1946. The physical characteristics of collected were determined The use of water to irrigate land water samples procedures outlined in affects both the quantity and qucility of according to "Standard Methods for the Examination of water flowing in a stream. The quantity Sewage and Industrial Wastes", is lowered by the amount of water lost to Water, (American Public Health evaporation and transpiration. The tem- tenth edition Association, 1955). The temperature, perature of the return flow is higher, and color, and electrical conduct- the water usually contains more dissolved turbidity, determined. minerals due to its prolonged contact with ance were the soil. STATION 3 LAKE WENATCHEE
STATION I NASON CREEK STATION Z CHIWAWA RIVER STATION 4 .WENATCHEE RIVER
O I Z j A 5
Figure 6. —Wenatchee River Basin sampling stations, (location map) STATION I NASON CREEK JAMIdSS STATION 2 CHIWAWA RIVER JAN.I956
STATION 3 LAKE WENATCHEE APRIL 1956
STATION 4 WENATCHEE RIVER AT PLAIN AUG. 1955
STATION 5 WENATCHEE RIVER AT STATION 6 WENATCHEE RIVER AT TUMWATER CANYON AUG.I955 SLEEPY HOLLOW APRIL 1956
Figure 7. —Photographs of sampling stations.
10 Chemical Tests WATER QUALITY IN THE WENATCHEE RIVER BASIN Con^lete quantitative chemical analyses for all the constituents present in the water were not made. Determinations were Nason Creek (Station 1 ) made for certain chemical characteristics, dissolved gases, and metcillic ions which The stream is 23 miles long and enters adequately define the water quality. Spe- the Wenatchee River just below Lake Wenatchee cifically, tests for dissolved oxygen, at an elevation of 1,800 feet. No up-to- carbon dioxide, pH, hardness, alkalinity, date information on the quantity of stream sulphates, ammonia, and total solids were flow was available. Ccirried out. They also were made in accord- ance with "The Standard Methods for the Physical characteristics Examination of Water, Sewage and Industrial Wastes", tenth edition. In addition, The physical characteristics of the selected seasonal samples were einalyzed by waters of Nason Creek are shown in tables a commercial testing laboratory for iron, 4 and 5. copper, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, silver, meinganese, and These physical characteristics are lead. plotted versus time and shown graphically in figures 8 and 9.
Sampling Procedure
At all sampling stations two separate samples were collected, and two separate determinations made for Table 4. —Nason Creek—Water quality, physical each physical and chemical test. characteristics, 1955-1956. The results reported are an average of the two determinations. Samples were usually collected at mid-depth from the left and right halves 6f the stream. At Lake Wenatchee, a boat was used to get to the sampling point. Samples at varying depths, usually 10 ft., 75 ft., and 175 ft., were obtained from the lake.
Frequency of Seimpling
During the summer of 1954 samples were collected weekly from Station 6, Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow. A few rjindom samples were also collected from this point dur- ing the winter and spring of 1954- 1955. Sampling of all the stations at 1- or 2-week intervals commenced in June of 1955 cind continued through September of the same year. Where possible, monthly samples were obtained from all sampling stations during the winter and spring of 1955-1956. Severe weather conditions prevented seimpling some of the sta- tions in the upper valley during this period.
Chemical characteristics Table 6. —Nason Creek—Water quality, chemical The chemical chciracteristics of characteristics, 1955-1956 -1/ the waters of Nason Creek as deter- mined during this study are listed in table 6. These chemical characteris- tics are plotted against time and shown graphically in figures 8 and 9.
Summary . The waters of Nason Creek contained very little suspended or dissolved matter. They were prac- tically neutral and very soft. Color and turbidity were noticeable only on one occasion during the period of sampling. The waters were practi- cally saturated with dissolved oxy- gen. Temperature of the water was subject to significcmt diurnal varia- tions during the warm weather months.
Nason Creek—Comparison of 1940 and 1955-1956 Data 4 1 1 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL J p M A M (>'J rj A 5 O ' M CHARACTERISTICS CHIWAWA RIVER STATION a 1955-1956 FiglO i.-
15 16 Chemical characteristics
The chemical characteristics of the waters of the Chiwawa river determined during this study are shown in table 10. These chemical characteristics are plotted against time and are shown graphically in figures 10 euid 11.
Summary
A general description of the waters of the Chiwawa River would emphasize the low content of suspended and dissolved matter, the softness and neutral pH. Color and
Table 9. —Chiwawa River —Water quality, water temperature 1956
Month MILES
Figure 12. — Lake Wenatchee.
Table 11, — Lake Wenatchee —Water quality, physical characteristics, June-October 1955.
Average - 7
40 45 60 55 feO 40 45 30 55 «i|0
WATER TEMPERATURE 'f. ; WATER TEMPERATURE*R - -r i- ; 1955 19^9
250 t-
8 3 10 To 80 ao ^00 I 2 3 4^
DISSOLVED OXYGEN "To SATURATION D.O. CARBON 010X10^ "PPM T ppwr —
I
COMPARISON OF -iOilTt; Data for 19 33 t 1 STATION 3j . . . : .:.. SEPT. t o<^T. t955|-]95e Fig^l3 ^ 19 seasonal period and made an interest- Table 13. —Wenatchee River at Plain—Water quality, ing basis for comparison. The data physical characteristics, 1955-1956. from the sources are presented graphically in figure 13. Average Minimum Maximum Temperature C F.) 53 37 63 Wenatchee River at Plain Turbidity (units) 8 2 40 (Station 4) Color (units) 10 5 45 The Wenatchee River near Plain Speci-fic conductance has a drainage area of 591 square (micromhos/cm at 25" C.) 31 22 49 miles and is fed mainly by Lake Wenatchee, Nason Creek, and the Oiiwawa River. Sampling at this station was interrupted by an unusually heavy snowfall during the winter of 1955- Table 14. —Wenatchee River at Plain—Water quality, 1956. No water quality data were water temperature, 1956-. obtained from November through February of that period. Average daily maximum Physical characteristics Month temperature °F. The physical characteristics August of the waters of the Wenatchee River at Plain are shown in tables 13 and September' 14. October These physical characteristics November are plotted versus time and shown December graphically in figures 14 and 15. Chemical characteristics 4 r I (bO t ui . ...-4_ -G-5© ---t" 1955 «0 4o 19%-z-A cc i^ 30 UI40 20 I / 1 UI g .0 J I 1 I ) I -1 1 1- 2 O F , M A M J'J A S ON O jF maImjj A!S oimO \ --^ -1 I 1 i_ J 1—a» ^ I "^V^ 7i -W -1 I 1- ' J P MAIM J J A|.3 O K -PWiS. CALAND CHEMICAL CHAJRACTERlSTlCS WENATCHEE RIVER . ® PLiUN, STATldN 4- -.ir:_,:; ;.. ._i4H-i95ft I Fig. 1 21 ; — — 1 o \ .igffC <* 40 o. w 30 J95y g K) -I 1 I J A, J M r M M J A S o ; P u - ^ go- -fv a. 17^' ^0 z i ^^ ur 00 Hours OfeOO \200 ' 1800 ,AU6U5T 1955 til :4o ^2 Vanes beVweeri a^''ftnc>3fa''F <^ 0? ^ 2 0.2 O /Vv S 1 _i I I I I 3^ 4^ *• M M J J s o I r4 o 00 Hours O^O 1200 : |800 2400 NOVEMBER ^955 ..-jmySlCAL AUa CHjEhdltAl CMARACTERlSTicS WENATCHEE RIVER (5> PLAIN, STAT10!N4. .. 1955-1956 F|Q.15 I ! L 2i. ,1. ! i i ..1 L_- , I 1 L„— — ?2 ) ) Table 16. —Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon—Water Wenatchee River at Tumwater quality, physical characteristics, 1955-1956. Canyon (Station 5) Average Minimum MsLximum The Wenatchee River actually leaves its true valley a few miles Temperature (2 F. 50 32 62 below Plain and flows for approxi- Turbidity (units) 8 2 33 mately 6 miles through the steep, narrow Tumwater Canyon. This is Color (units) 10 4 38 the roughest and steepest portion of the entire river. The only addi- Specific conductance tional major tributary to the river (microrahos/cm at 25* C. 36 25 54 at this station is the Chiwaukum Creek. Due to the heavy snowfall dur- ing the winter of 1955-1956, water sample collection wjis seriously hampered at this station. Samples Table 17. —Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon—Water obtained from January through April, quality, water temperature, 1956. 1956 were of necessity collected from the Tumwater bridge, about 2 miles upstream from Station 5. It was felt that the water quality was essentially the same at the two points. Physical characteristics The physical characteristics of the waters of the Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon are shown in tables 16 and 17. These physical characteristics plotted against time are shown graphically in figures 16 and 17. Chemical characteristics The chemical characteristics of the Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon are shown in table 18. They are also plotted versus time and shown graphically in figures 16 and 17. Summary The waters of the Wenatchee River at Tumwater Canyon had prac- tically the same characteristics as those previously noted for Station 4 upstream at Plain. A general description would emphasize their low suspended and dissolved material content, their softness and neutral pH. The diurnal variation in water temperature was for the most part the same also for the two stations. 24 -»©Cr l??^.'! >* 2 a Ok y I/)o -3-5© Q. a a 40 V) 95^ III zo o 10 -•e- J p 'M A U jlj A S O.'* " J p MAM -J AIS awo w o i V t,o 15 -I 1 u J L \i I / \aD^^,«C«K -J 1 ^ -I L -J U 5 OOMoursOfeOO 1200 , 1800 2400 AUGUST 1955 ClM AM J, J IkSOlWO OOHottijOtOO 1200 I80O 2400 i f^OVEMBER 1955 -_j PHYSICAL AND-gi4£MlCAJ r chKracterisIjics WEN^CHEE lIllVER (toTVMVWATsR CANVON, fejATIOH 5 J95^-|956 F»9.I7 I i I ! Ill i-L. 25 ) Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow (Station 6) Table 19. —Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow—Water quality, physical characteristics, 1954, 1955 and 1956. The sampling point at Sleepy the Wenatchee River was Hollow on Average Minimum Maximum located cpproximately 2 miles upstream from its junction with the Columbia Temperatures (* F. 51 32 66 River. Major tributaries that flow Turbidity (units) 10 1 80 into the river between Stations 5 and 6 are Icicle Creek, Chumstick Creek, Color (units) 10 48 Peshastin Creek, and Mission Creek. In addition, the treated sewage from Specific conductance 25* 56 31 118 Leavenworth, plus the raw sewage from (micromhos/cm at C.) Peshastin and Cashmere, is present in the river at this station. As pre- viously stated, the raw sewage from the City of Wenatchee is discharged into the Columbia River and does not Table 20. —Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow-Water influence the water at this station. quality, water temperature, 1956. Physical characteristics The physical characteristics of the waters of the Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow are tabulated in tables 19 and 20, and cire shown graphically in figures 18 and 19. Chemical characteristics The chemical characteristics of the waters of the Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow are listed in table 21 and are also plotted versus time and shown graphically in figures 18 and 19. PHYillCALAKD CHARACTER I STl WENATCHEE RIVER (S> SLEEflY HOLLOW, STATION 6 19j»i^. :, l-J <3|54y5fimf F19.I8 27 3«9i j 00 Hours 0406 1^00 ' 1800 DECEMBER. 1935 CW^RACTtRlSTJcS WENATCHEE RIVER @SLEEP*Y HOLLOW, SJATVONfe IBSA,S5aaA 1996 28 IP 9> 50 4p PiwaiCAL.Ajin CHARACTERISTICS WENAtCHEE RIVER RCaaiNSI 0MM5T6EAM fiUl LK WfcMClb|K 29 . water quality of the Wenatchee River, the carbon dioxide was found in both streams. physical and chemical characteristics at the These investigations revealed the two rivers sampling stations were plotted versus miles to be alkaline with the Wenatchee having an downstream from Lake Wenatchee on figure 20. average pH of 7.3 and the Columbia an aver- In general it can be seen that there was a age of 7.8. The hardness of the Columbia, downstream increase in jill physical and 66 ppm, was about 2-1/2 times that of the chemical characteristics except carbon diox- Wenatchee, 27 ppm. The alkalinity exhibited ide and ammonia. These slight increases about the same relationship, 60 ppm in the were expected, for as a rule a river picks Columbia and 28 ppm in the Wenatchee. up increased amounts of suspended and dis- solved constituents as it flows from its . source toward the ocecin. The decrease in THE EFFECT OF IMPOUNDMENT OF carbon dioxide was probably due to photosyn- WATER QUALITY thesis. The downstream decrease in ammonia concentration was hardly significant, but Included as part of the purpose of this nonetheless was unexpected. Ammonia is one study was the establishment of the water of the results of decomposition of organic quality characteristics of the Wenatchee and matter, and due to the upstream discharge Chiwawa Rivers prior to impoundment due to of sewage it was anticipated that it would hydroelectric projects, cind to make predic- increase in the lower river. A possible ex- tions regarding the effects of the impound- planation for this condition may have been ments. that sufficient time had elapsed since the introduction of the organic matter for Effect on Physical and Chemical nitrite producing bacteria to transform the Water Quality ammonia into nitrites. The effect impoundment has on the physical and chemical' water quality is sub- COMPARISON OF WATER QUALITY, ject to a number of VEiriables, some of WENATCHEE RIVER AND COLUMBIA RIVER which are listed below: A comparison of the physical and chemi 1. The physical and chemical quality cal characteristics of the Wenatchee River characteristics of the water enter- at Sleepy Hollow determined in this study ing the in^joundment and those found by Sylvester (1957) for the Columbia River at Rock Island Table 22. —Wenatchee River at Sleepy Hollow and Columbia is shown in table 22. River at Rock Island—Average water quality, 1954-1955-1956 i/. Referring to table 22, it can be seen that the waters of the two rivers Wenatchee were similar in some respects and different in others. The turbidity, 10 units in the Wenatchee and 6 units Temperature (° F.) in the Columbia, was low in both Turbidity (units) rivers. The average color of 10 units Color (units) was the Scime for both rivers and was Specific conductance considered to be low. The Columbia (micromhos/cm at 25* C.) had almost 2-1/2 times the ionized Dissolved oxygen (ppm) Percent saturation D.O. mineral content of the Wenatchee, as Carbon dioxide (ppm) indicated by the specific conductiv- pH ities of 131 and 56 micromhos per cis., Total hardness (ppm) respectively. The dissolved oxygen Alkalinity (ppm) content was essentially the same in Sulfates (ppm) both rivers, averaging 11.4 ppm in Ammonia (ppm) the Wenatchee and 11.8 in the Colum- Total solides (ppm) bia. Both streams were found to be supersaturated with dissolved oxygen, with the Wenatchee averaging 103 per- cent and the Columbia averaging 116 percent. An average of 1.0 ppm . . 2. The stream flow characteristics of 2. Decrease in dissolved oxygen the incoming streams. saturation with depth. 3. The general characteristics of the The deposition of silt and organic impoundment area, such as geology, debris of natural origin in the soil mantle, vegetation, configura- impoundment creates an oxygen tion, depth, etc. The amount of demand which tends to reduce the logging, clearing of timber and oxygen saturation. Upon inundation underbrush prior to the inundation the organic constituents of the is also of importance. reservoir bottom and the non-woody vegetation thereon also contribute 4. The climatic conditions of the to the oxygen demand. In view of region, such as rainfall, air tem- the high oxygen saturation and lack perature and amount of sunlight. of significant amount of organic matter in the Wenatchee and Chiwawa 5. The depth of drawoff from the Rivers, it is believed this deple- reservoir tion will not be of auiy importance. If careful cind adequate cle airing 6. The amount of drawdovm. of timber and underbrush is not carried out prior to the damming The more important changes that may of the streams, a temporary in- take place in the physical and chemical creased oxygen demand may result. characteristics of water due to impoundment are listed under two categories: adverse 3. Increase in carbon dioxide concen- and beneficial, along with specific comments tration with depth. concerning the Wenatchee and Chiwawa Rivers. The deposition of organic matter Adverse effects : and the subsequent decomposition will contribute carbon dioxide. 1. Increase in surface water tempera- In the proposed reservoir the in- tures from the upstream to downstream por- crease of carbon dioxide with tions of the reservoir and possible thermal depth should be very similzir to stratification in deep reservoirs. that noted in Lake Wenatchee. As previously stated, if the impound- In addition to the natural climatic ment area is not properly cleared and physical features of the of trees and brush, the resultant impounding basin which jointly con- decomposition may create a tempo- trol the water temperature in rary high concentration of carbon natural lakes, the position of the dioxide dcim and the depth of drawoff have a major effect on temperature in 4. Decrease of pH with d epth as a impounded waters (Ellis, 1940). result of the increase of carbon dioxide. Studies on existing Columbia River impoundments have indicated little If the carbon dioxide concentra- or no thermal stratification tion becomes excessive, it may (Robeck, Henderson, and Palange, reduce the pH of the poorly buf- 1954). It is probable that very fered incoming waters to a rela- little area of shallow water depth tively low value. It is doubtful will result from impoundments on whether the pH would be reduced the Wenatchee and Chiwawa Rivers. below 6.0, the lower limit believed Therefore, if it were not due to necessary to support good fish the drawoff from the bottom of the fauna. (Ellis, Westf all , and dam, the seasonal cycle of air Ellis, 1946.) temperatures would produce a sea- sonal cycle of water temperature 5. Concentration of toxic elements changes similar to that found in such as copper, lead and zinc. Lake Wenatchee. This is believed to be of minor significance due to the absence 31 of these elements in the tributary warm water in the winter and waters. relatively cool water in the summer (Sylvester, 1957). This may be a Beneficial effects; major improvement, from the stand- point of fish life since it has Decrease in the suspended solids been previously shown that maximum content water temperature in the Wenatchee River basin occurred in August. Due to the reduction in stream velocity, the reservoir acts as a settling basin and permits the Effect on the Biological removal of settleable matter by Water Quality sedimentation. Since turbidity was generally very low in the In addition the effect impoundment has Wenatchee eind Chiwawa Rivers, on the biological water quality is subject additional reduction would be in- to a number of variables. Those noted in cidental except during the spring Roosevelt Lake on the Columbia River (Robeck freshets. et al , 1954) are listed below: 2. Reduction of color due to the 1. The annual deposition of settleable bleaching action of sunlight. matter from the entering water creates unfavorable bottom conditions. Color was usually very low in both rivers, and any further reduction 2. The sharp drop-off at the shore would be insignif iceint , except line and lack of shallow areas limits aqua- possibly during the heavy spring tic vegetation and bottom fauna. runoff. 3. The large winter and spring draw- 3. Improvement in the sanitary quality down inhibits the natural development of of the impounded water , due to the unfavor- shore vegetation. able environment for intestinal bacteria. The biological changes that might take While no bacteriological data were place due to the impoundment, such as those obtained during this investigation, noted in Roosevelt Lake (Robeck et al , 1954) the general lack of sewage dis- are listed below: charge into these streams would indicate that they have no more 1. A seasonal build-up of plankton than the normal surface water bac- populations which could have an effect on teriological contamination. Since downstream water uses, neither stream is used for public water supply, this improvement is 2. A change in bottom animals to less not of much significance. From desirable types as far as fish food is con- the standpoint of recreational use c erned. of the reservoirs it might be of some importance. 3. A change in fish population with more rough and forage species present and 4. Cooler river water below the lake less food and game species. in the summer and warmer water during the fall '(Smith 1/). 4. A general decrease in biological productivity due, for the most part, to the Reservoirs that eire long and deep large winter drawdowns. generally discharge relatively SUMMARY _!/ "Report on the Lewis River salmon conser- A study of the physical and chemical vation progrcim" by Richard T. Smith. characteristics of water in relation to the Washington State Department of Fisheries. environment was made in the Wenatchee River Unpublished manuscript. 35 pp. 1943. Basin during 1954, 1955 and 1956. Data 32 from this study will provide a basis for solids. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, comparison to determine the effect of percent saturation of dissolved oxygen, and impoundment on water quality, and an evalua- pH all decreased with depth. Hardness, tion of the Wenatchee River Basin in rela- alkalinity, sulfates, ammonia and total tion to the preservation of fish resources. solids were consistent with depth. Carbon dioxide was the only constituent that in- The water quality of a region is creased with depth. A brief limnological influenced by many characteristics of the study of Lake Wenatchee was maide during watershed, such as: (1) topography, (2) September and October of 1939 and presented flow characteristics, (3) geology, (4) soil an interesting comparison for the data col- mantle, (5) climate, (6) land use jind vege- lected during the same two months of 1955. tal cover, (7) population, (8) industry, These data revealed similar thermal strati- (9) ground water, and (10) irrigation. fications in 1939 and 1955. There was a slight increase in the dissolved oxygen Water samples were collected from Nason content and percent saturation at all depths Creek, Chiwawa River, Lake Wenatchee, and in 1956 as compared to 1939. This was Wenatchee River. indicative of a generail decrease of the biological activity in 1955 aind was corrobo- Temperature, turbidity, color, and rated by the lower carbon dioxide content specific conductance were determined to noted at that time. define the physical characteristics. Dis- solved oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, hardness, Wenatchee River . The waters of the alkalinity, sulfates, ammonia, total solids, Wenatchee River are largely a mixture of the and trace metallic ions were used to inter- flow from Nason Creek, Lake Wenatchee, pret the chemical quality. Chiwawa River, and Icicle Creek and there- fore possess characteristics very similar to On the basis of the results of the those of the major tributaries. In general physical and chemical tests made during this they were very low in suspended and dis- study, the waters of the Wenatchee River solved constituents, very soft, practically Basin may be summarized as follows: neutrsil in pH and saturated with dissolved oxygen. A slight downstream increase in the Nason Creek . The waters of Nason Creek concentrations of physical and chemical were characterized by an extremely low con- characteristics was noted. A comparison of tent of suspended and dissolved matter. The the physical and chemical characteristics hardness and alkalinity was very low and the of the Wenatchee River and the Columbia pH was practically neutral. The water was River at Rock Island disclosed that they had practically saturated with dissolved oxygen. about the same amount of turbidity, color, A significant diurnal variation in water dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ammo- temperature was noted during the summer nia. The Columbia River, in contrast with months. Seasonal variations were noted in the Wenatchee River, had about 2-1/2 times most constituents. A comparison of a limited the hardness, sdkalinity, and ionized sunount of chemical data collected during mineral content along with a higher super- 1940 and the results of the Scime character- saturation with dissolved oxygen cUid pH. istics noted in this study revealed no changes in water quality. The impoundment of water produces some important chsuiges in its physical and chemi- Chiwawa River . The waters of the cal qualities. These changes may be aujverse Chiwawa River were found to be extremely low to fish life, such as an increase in surface in suspended and dissolved matter. They water temperatures, decrease in dissolved were consistently very low in color, tur- oxygen saturation with depth, increase in bidity, hardness, and alkalinity, and usually carbon dioxide with depth, decrease of pH, were saturated with dissolved oxygen. Dur- and the concentration of toxic elements. ing the warm weather months considerable Some beneficial effects might be a decrease diurncil variation in water temperature was in suspended matter, reduction of color, observed. improvement in ssmitary quality and cooler water temperatures below the dam in the Lake Wenatchee . The waters of Lake warm weather months. Some biological changes Wenatchee were very soft, slightly acidic, are also involved, such as seasonal buildup and extremely low in suspended and dissolved of plankton, change in bottom animals, 33 change in fish population, and a general BRYANT, FLOYD G. , AND ZELL E. PARKHURST decrease in biological productivity. The 1950. Survey of the Columbia River and data from this study will provide a basis its tributaries. 4. Area III. Wash- for comparison to verify these aforemen- ington streams from the Klickitat tioned effects. and Snake Rivers to Grand Coulee Dam, with notes on the Columbia and its The combination of characteristics in tributaries above Grand Coulee Daja. the Wenatchee River Basin has formed a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, watershed that is capable of conserving and Special Scientific Report —Fisheries supplying waters of excellent physical and No. 37, 108 pp. chemical quality. The fact that relatively insoluble granite is the major rock in the ELLIS, M. M. basin has an important effect on the water 1940. Water conditions affecting aquatic quality. Most of the drainage basin is life in Elephant Butte reservoir. part of the Wenatchee National Forest which Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish., 49(34) -.257- practically precludes the detrimental effect 304. of overgrazing and excess logging. The very sparse population and almost complete lack ELLIS, M. M., B. A. WESTFALL, AND of industry keep the discharge of deleteri- MARION D. ELLIS ous substances to the streams at a minimum. 1946. Determination of water quality. In conclusion it may be stated that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wenatchee River System is indispensable for Research Report No. 9, 122 pp. the continued prosperity of the irrigated agriculture in the valley and is very impor- HINDS, NORMAN E. A. tant as a producing area for blueback salmon 1943. Geomorphology, the evolution of in the Columbia River System. landscape. Prentice-Hall Inc., New York. 894 pp. JENSEN, EMIL C. , AND JOSHUA H. VOGEL ACKNOWLEDGMENT 1954. Sewage collection and treatment works in the State of Washington. The writer desires to express his Bur. of Governmental Res. and Ser- appreciation to Professor Robert 0. Syl- vices in cooperation with Assoc, of vester, Department of Civil Engineering, Washington Cities cind Washington University of Washington, for the guidance State Department of Health, Suppl. jtnd assistance received during the progress No. 1, Report No. 86, 37 pp. of this work. The aid rendered in the collection of data by Professor Holger P. ROBECK, GORDON G. , CROSEWLL HENDERSON, Mittet, Charles P. Ruggles, Gerald H. Hans- AND RALPH C. PALANGE ler, William V. Pye, William Peterson and 1954. Water quality studies on the James Gustafson, all of the University of Columbia River. U. S. Department of Washington, is gratefully acknowledged. Health, Education, and Welfare, Appreciation is cilso expressed to the United Public Health Service, Bur. State States Fish and Wildlife Service and Public Services, Div. Sanitary Engineering, Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County for 99 pp. (Appendices A-D, 194 pp.) coverage of expenses incurred in the collec- t^on of data. RUSSELL, I. C. 1900. A preliminary paper on the geology of the Cascade Mountains in northern Washington. U. S. Geological Survey, LITERATURE CITED Twentieth Annual Report. Fiscal Year 1899, pt. 2: 83-210. AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION AND SIMONS, W. D. FEDERATION OF SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL 1953. Irrigation and streamflow deple- WASTE ASSOCIATIONS tion in the Columbia River Basin 1955. Standcird methods for the examina- above the Dalles, Oregon. U. S. tion of water, sewage, «md industrial Geological Survey, Water Supply wastes. Tenth edition. 522 pp. Paper, No. 1220, 126 pp. 34 SYLVESTER, ROBERT 0. VAN WINKLE, WALTON 1957. Reseairch and investigation on the 1914. Quality of the surface waters of qujility of water of the Columbia Washington. U. S. Geological Survey, River and effects on the fisheries Water Supply Paper, No. 339. 105 pp. resources. Prepzired for University of Washington School of Fisheries WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION under contract No. 14-19-008-2419 AND DEVELOPMENT, DIVISION OF WATER with U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RESOURCES 204 pp. , appendix. Ozalid process. 1955. Monthly and yearly summaries of January 20, 1957. hydrographic data in the State of Washington to September 1953. Wash- UNITED STATES WEATHER BUREAU ington Department of Conservation 1956. Climatological data, Washington and Development, Division of Water section. U. S. Department of Com- Resources, Water-Supply Bull., No. 6, merce, Weather Bureau, 59(13) (Annual 836 pp. summary) :205-216. IKT.-BOP. 35 SK., (ASH., D.C. Il5l(99 MBL WHOI Library - Serials